FibroScan in Winnipeg
Measure the Health of Your Liver
Are you at risk?
Liver disease is often called a “silent” condition because it can progress for years without noticeable symptoms. Early detection and regular monitoring are crucial for preventing serious complications such as cirrhosis or liver failure. Fortunately, a breakthrough technology known as FibroScan is making it easier than ever to assess liver health, without the need for invasive procedures.
What is a FibroScan?
The FibroScan is a very specific, non-invasive scan designed to measure and identify a fatty liver. Using ultrasound waves, we will measure a 3 cm² area of your liver, calculating fat and liver stiffness to provide you with detailed information about your risk factors.
Why is Fatty Liver Important?
Did you know fatty liver affects more than 30% of North Americans?
When fat deposits in the liver, it causes inflammation, which can lead to scarring and fibrosis. Fatty Liver is when there is excess fat in more than 5% of liver cells. You might think of Fatty Liver as a problem caused by long-term alcohol consumption, but that’s only a small percentage of people who actually suffer from the disease.
The reality is we are facing an epidemic of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in North America. If you are carrying too much body fat, you may also have fatty liver.
What Causes Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD)?
While Alcoholic Fatty Liver is a result of over-consumption of alcohol, NAFLD occurs when a person eats a high sugar, high carb diet loaded with bad fats (think fast food), usually eating too much and too often. This causes insulin to spike repeatedly, which results in the body reacting by storing fat internally.
When and Why to Consider a FibroScan
At Body Measure, we focus on your overall health and disease prevention. The FibroScan is a non-invasive technology that quickly scans and detects even minor scarring on the liver so you can start the appropriate treatment before liver disease has become too advanced. It can also rule out the need for further assessment such as a painful liver biopsy.
If you have excess body fat, now is the time to book your FibroScan. More sensitive than a traditional ultrasound, the FibroScan will let our team know not only if you have fatty liver and cell damage, but also the severity of your condition. That way, we can help you make adjustments to your diet, fitness, and lifestyle to improve your liver health. Even a 5-7% decrease in body weight can be associated with reduced liver fat and inflammation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does a FibroScan measure: liver fat or liver scarring?
FibroScan assesses liver stiffness and, when CAP measurement is included, liver fat. Stiffness can help assess the likelihood of fibrosis, while CAP relates to fat accumulation. These are different measurements: a fatty liver does not automatically mean advanced scarring, and the report needs clinical interpretation.
What do CAP and kPa mean on my FibroScan report?
CAP, reported in decibels per metre, estimates liver fat. Liver stiffness, reported in kilopascals or kPa, helps assess fibrosis risk. There is no single cut-off that fits every person and liver condition. Ask how your results fit your medical history, blood tests and the quality of the measurements.
Do I still need liver assessment if I feel well?
Possibly. Fatty liver disease often has few or no symptoms, so feeling well does not rule it out. Whether assessment is appropriate depends on factors such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic risk and previous test findings. Discuss your risk with a clinician rather than relying on symptoms alone.
Can FibroScan replace blood tests, an ultrasound or a liver biopsy?
Not in every situation. FibroScan provides stiffness and fat information that complements other tests; it does not answer every liver-health question. A clinician may still need blood work, other imaging or occasionally biopsy to clarify the cause or severity of disease, especially when results conflict.
Do I need to fast before a FibroScan?
Yes. Fast for two hours and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment. Recent eating can affect liver-stiffness measurements. Follow your appointment instructions for water and medication, and tell us if you cannot safely fast or were unable to follow the preparation.
Does a high FibroScan result always mean cirrhosis?
No. A high stiffness reading requires assessment, but it is not a stand-alone diagnosis of cirrhosis. Your clinician considers the underlying liver condition, measurement quality and other tests before deciding what it means. Ask what follow-up is needed rather than interpreting a number from an online chart.